Summary
Provisional government figures show India’s refinery throughput rose modestly in June, while imports contracted and a handful of tanker movements were reversed amid heightened security risks in nearby waters. The data underline a mixed picture for the country’s crude supply chain, with refining activity steady year-on-year but physical cargo flows under strain.
Throughput details
India’s refineries processed 5.44 million barrels per day in June, an increase of 1% from May, according to provisional government data. That June throughput corresponds to 22.26 million metric tons of crude.
For comparison, the preceding month saw refineries handling 5.21 million barrels per day, or 22.05 million metric tons. The June throughput level matched the 5.44 million barrels per day recorded in June 2025.
Shipments and security
Separately, three oil tankers carrying in excess of 95,000 metric tons of Saudi crude bound for India were reported to have turned back in the Red Sea on Tuesday. The move occurred as Yemen’s Houthi militia imposed a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.
Heightened maritime risk also prompted commercial decisions. Indian Oil Corp cancelled the planned lifting of Iraqi crude from the Basrah Oil Terminal, citing increased risk and attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd likewise called off an operation to pick up oil from Iraq using the Indian-flagged Aframax tanker Desh Gaurav, the company said.
Import volumes
Government data show India’s crude oil imports in June fell by more than 12% from May, arriving at 19.59 million metric tons for the month. The drop in inbound volumes comes alongside the operational disruptions and safety concerns reported for certain shipments.
Context and implications
While refinery throughput edged up month-on-month and remained level with the prior year, the combination of reduced import volumes and interrupted tanker movements highlights ongoing logistical and security pressures on India’s crude supply chain. The provisional nature of the government figures means they may be subject to later revision.